A TEENAGE Paul McCartney fan queued for 15 hours in the snow to get a book signed by his hero - then immediately gave it away.

Stockport student Nick Crewdson was elated when the former Beatle autographed the book for him at a signing in Liverpool.

But then he noticed tearful American Marla Gee, who had travelled from her home near Chicago especially for the signing - only to miss out on an autograph.

So Nick gave her his copy in an act of generosity which left her astonished.

Nick, 17, of Gawthorne Close, Hazel Grove, waited overnight in the snow outside WH Smith in Liverpool last month after hearing that his hero was coming to sign copies of his new book of poetry 'Blackbird Singing'.

The Aquinas College student raced down the M62 with his friend Paul Rimmer.

"Paul and I got down there at about 11pm and slept overnight in the freezing cold and the snow.

"Marla joined the queue about half-an-hour after us and we just got talking as we waited."

And waited. After 15 hours in freezing temperatures, Nick got a glimpse of McCartney when he came to the book signing at 2pm the next day.

Nick said: "We were about five from the front when he stopped signing. I wrestled to the front and got mine autographed.

"But then I saw Marla was crying. It was easy to give my book to her - she was really upset.

"Then she just hugged me. That 30 seconds was worth the 15-hour wait." Marla, 47, had taken two days off work especially for the signing.

Speaking from her home in Gary, Indiana, the post office worker told the Stockport Express: "There were perhaps a dozen in front of me when rumours started going round that McCartney had finished signing.

"And I can't remember a time in my life, ever, when I've had a crash like that.

"The next thing I knew I was sobbing on Nick's shoulder like he was my dad or something.

"Suddenly, Nick told me to keep his book. I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't protest for very long!"

Nick's dad Mike, 47, said: "I'm really proud of Nick. It was a wonderful thing to do, but he's like that anyway.

"He's always been a Paul McCartney fan. There's rumoured to be a distant family connection, a second cousin of a second cousin, although I've never seen any proof."

But Nick said: "His grandad is supposed to be the brother of my great-grandad. My mum says that's come from my late great-grandma, so it must be true!"